About the Breastfeeding Task Force
of
Greater LA
MISSION STATEMENT
The Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles is
dedicated to improving the health and well being of
infants and families through education, outreach, and
advocacy to promote and support breastfeeding.
GOALS
-Facilitate the acceptance of breastfeeding as the
societal norm for infant feeding.
-Create a supportive public environment for breastfeeding
and the use of human milk.
-Capacitate the healthcare system to effectively support
exclusive* breastfeeding and the provision of human milk
to human babies.
-Establish the Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los
Angeles as a trusted source of breastfeeding information
and resources.
* The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World
Health Organization recommend exclusive breastfeeding
for the first 6 months, followed by continued
breastfeeding with the addition of complementary foods.
Objectives
-Facilitate the acceptance of
breastfeeding as the societal norm for infant feeding.
Create a supportive public environment for breastfeeding
and the use of human milk.
-Conduct outreach and facilitate networking to broaden
the base of active breastfeeding support.
-Increase the incidence of positive breastfeeding
messages in the media.
-Work together towards systemic change by educating
public officials, institutions and the community about
policies and practices that promote, protect and support
breastfeeding.
-Educate both employers and employees about the benefits
of supporting breastfeeding in the workplace, and how to
create a breastfeeding-friendly work environment.
Capacitate the healthcare system to effectively support
exclusive* breastfeeding and the provision of human milk
to human babies.
-Advance a breastfeeding-friendly model of health care
delivery to effectively support exclusive breastfeeding
and the provision of human milk to human babies.
-Promote breastfeeding awareness and education for
healthcare providers and administrators.
-Highlight the cost-effectiveness of breastfeeding as a
way to manage health care costs.
Establish the Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los
Angeles as a trusted source of breastfeeding information
and resources.
-Provide comprehensive web-based information and
resources for lactation and other healthcare
professionals and consumers.
-Produce, maintain, and distribute a free print and
web-based publication listing breastfeeding resources
and information in Greater Los Angeles.
-Provide educational programs tailored for professional,
paraprofessional and lay audiences.
-Foster the development of local expertise as well as
facilitate learning opportunities from nationally
renowned breastfeeding experts.
History
The Task Force was formed in 1994 by a group of
dedicated volunteers who wanted to make a difference in
the breastfeeding rates in Los Angeles County.
-In July 1994, Task Force members published an article on
breastfeeding in the Los Angeles County Medical
Association magazine (The Real Thing, LACMA Physician,
July 11, 1994).
-In August 1994, Fact Sheets about breastfeeding and the
risks of infant formula were researched and published
and decals stating "Breastfeeding Welcome Here" were
printed and distributed to local businesses.
-In August 1995, the Task Force hosted a World Walk for
Breastfeeding in Griffith Park. This event was a
collaboration of public health agencies, WIC programs,
mother to mother support groups, and breastfeeding
advocates from the entire county. Guest speakers
included actress Lynn Redgrave, attorney Gloria Allred,
California Assembly Representatives Antonio Villaraigosa
and Sheila Khuel, and Dr. Paul Fleiss.
-In 1996, the Task Force published posters with an
endorsement by Olympic Volleyball Gold Medalist, Kent
Steffes, proclaiming "Breastfeeding - As Good As Gold."
A Breastfeeding Resource Directory is published annually
by the Task Force and print demand has increased from
10,000 in 1996 to 50,000 in 2003.
-Task Force Lactation Professional Education Seminars
have trained 2500 participants since 1998. The
Breastfeeding Task Force website was launched in 1998
currently averages 30,000 hits and 6,000 visitors per
month.
-The Task Force incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)3
corporation in September of 2001. The Breastfeeding
Works Pilot was developed in 2002 to assist employers in
supporting their breastfeeding employees.
-The Task Force conducted Strategic Planning and joined
the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign in 2002.
-Task Force was selected to be one of 18 Community
Demonstration Projects by the National Breastfeeding
Media Campaign of the Office of Women's Health, Health
and Human Services.
-The Task Force has also been awarded grants from First
Five and The California Endowment to further the mission
of making breastfeeding the norm in Los Angeles.
-The activities of the Breastfeeding Task Force are
funded, in part, by grants from the Office on Women's
Health, DHHS, First 5 LA and the California Endowment.
Click here
to download answers to frequently asked questions about
the Task Force.
The Current Board members are:
Governance Board:
President:
Julie Gates
President
Elect: Christine Gibson
Past
President: Deborah Myers
Secretary: Terri Nikoletich
Treasurer:
Bonnie Henson
At Large:
Sandra Steffes
At Large: Lorraine Miles
At Large: Ellen Steinberg
At Large: Linda McGee
At Large: Maggie Whitman
Supervisory Board:
Julie Gates
Christine Gibson
Linda Mcgee
Lorraine Miles
Deborah Myers
Lindsey Nelson
Terri Nikoletich
Rebeca Pastrana-Sheng
Elaine Robertson
Kiran Saluja
Sandra Steffes
Ellen Steinberg
Olga Vigdorchik
Maggie Whitman
Luz Chacon
Louise Tellalian
Andrea Ruiz
Wendy McGrail
Staff:
Executive Director: Karen Peters
Program Coordinators:
Genevieve Thomas Colvin, Rachel Hays, Susanna Lutton
Education Coordinator: Gwen Lipsey
Website Manager: Amy Ma
Founders:
D. Lisa Bollman, RNC
Luz Chacon, MPH, CLE
Paula Cohen, JD
Debora Edmunds, CLE
Paul Fleiss, MD
Jo Friedman, BSN, RN
Harold Goldstein, MSPH, DrPH
Maria E. Guzman, CLC
Gail Harrison, PhD
Arcelia Jaramillo BS, IBCLC
Patrice Jellife, MPH
Raquel Korn, RN, BSN, CLC
Shanda Lear, IBCLC
Amy Ma, IBCLC, CLE
Chele Marmet, MA, IBCLC
Wendy McGrail, MPH, RD
Karen Meehan, MPH, RD, CLE
Lorraine Miles, RN, BA, CLC
Deborah Myers, MS, CLE, CNS
Joan Ortiz, RN, BSN, CLC
Rebecca Pastrana-Sheng, BS, CLE
Karen Peters, MBA, RD, IBCLC
Debra Rabin, OTR, CLC
Kiran Saluja, MPH, RD
Matanee Shee, RN, BSN, IBCLC
Ellen Shell, MA, IBCLC
Judith Silvio, BSN, MA
Wendy Slusser, MD
Sandra Apgar Steffes, RN, MS
Louise Arce Tellalian, RN, CLC
Sharon Watkins, JD, IBCLC
Virgin Watters, BSN, RN
